Gwinnett County teacher Doug Doblar is among the 10 finalists for the 2019 Georgia Teacher of the Year.
"Gwinnett County Public Schools is extremely proud of Doug Doblar and this recognition. We believe he represents the skillful teachers in Gwinnett and in the State of Georgia," said Jonathan Patterson, Associate Superintendent, Division of Curriculumand Instructional Support. "Doblar engages his students' in
authentic learning experiences where they investigate problems and seek solutions throughout the learning process. When he teachers, the enthusiasm
in the room is contagious as students actively engage in meaningful and hands-on learning opportunities. Not only is Doblar an exemplary teacher, he's an exemplary teammate as he works collaboratively with his peers to plan and implement effective and engaging instruction for all students."
Doblar's 15-year career in education started as a long-term substitute teaching high school, followed by a three-year term teaching middle school. After that, he served four years as a college instructor while he worked full time on a PhD, before returning to a Gwinnett classroom as a local school technology coordinator at an elementary school.
In 2015, he came full circle, returning to the school he attended as an elementary school student to teach math and science.
"At every stage I have had huge accomplishments of which I'm still extremely proud to this day. Objectively speaking, some of those contributions (like building
a college course for 800 pre-service teachers and leading an entire school's modernization of its technology usage) may have had wider impacts than those I'm making today. However, the impact I'm able to see now is far
deeper," he said. "The icing on the cake is that I'm getting to experience these rewarding outcomes teaching at the same elementary school that I attended as a student and that serves the community in which I currently live."
Doblar has a bachelor's degree in Mathematics from the University of Georgia, a master's degree in Mathematics Education from Georgia State University, and a doctoral degree in Instructional Technology from Indiana University.
The finalists were chosen from a pool of 150 applicants; all had been previously selected as their school district’s Teacher of the Year. The applications were read by a panel of judges that included teachers, past Georgia Teacher of the Year winners and finalists, administrators, community leaders and others. The finalists were chosen based on the strength of their essay responses.
“It will certainly be a difficult decision for our panel of judges to choose who should be the 2019 Teacher of the Year," said State School Superintendent Richard Woods. "It is evident upon meeting each finalist that they treat education as more than just a profession -- it is their calling. It is my honor to meet each of them as they all are obviously dedicated, quality educators."
Finalists met with a panel of judges for a formal interview and gave speeches during a finalist luncheon April 16. The winner will be announced May 19, 2018.
The 2019 Georgia Teacher of the Year will travel around the state and the nation, serving as an ambassador for the teaching profession in Georgia. He or she will also be entered in the National Teacher of the Year competition.
Complete list of 2019 Georgia Teacher of the Year Finalists
- Shaylen Dixon, third grade, Peachtree City Elementary School, Fayette County Schools
- Doug Doblar, fourth and fifth grade mathematics and science, R.D. Head Elementary School, Gwinnett County Schools
- Allison Kerley, third grade, Barnwell Elementary School, Fulton County Schools
- Stefan Lawrence, English, George Washington Carver High School, Muscogee County Schools
- Nancy Rogers, English, Thomas County Middle School, Thomas County Schools
- Maleah Stewart, speech-language pathologist, North Forsyth Middle School, Forsyth County Schools
- Ike Thompson, English/gifted, Veterans High School, Houston County Schools
- Melanie Thompson, science, Georgia Academy for the Blind, State Schools
- Stephanie Vidrine, mathematics, Woodstock Middle School, Cherokee County Schools
- Kayla Yeargin, mathematics, Troup High School, Troup County Schools
The 2018 Georgia Teacher of the Year John R. Tibbetts, an economics teacher at Worth County High School in Worth County Schools.
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